Weekend roundup: Bengali films and celebs who made headlines

Whether it’s the news of Srijit’s ‘Baishe Srabon’ spin-off, Soumitra Chatterjee’s improved health condition, Jaya Ahsan and Ritwick in a horror-fantasy, the ‘Gumnaami’ controversy or Rahul-Sandipta’s next gig; it was a week full of rumors and exciting news from the Tollywood industry. Here is a quick look at Bengali cinema's some of the most exciting news from this week.

SVF dropped the biggest surprise of 2019 recently. Who could have thought Srijit Mukherji's 2011 blockbuster ‘Baishe Srabon’ is all set for a spin-off! After eight years and countless requests, this news has certainly doubled the excitement among the movie lovers. The thriller titled ‘Dwitiyo Purush’ will be directed by Srijit Mukherjee himself. Parambrata Chatterjee and Raima Sen, who played pivotal roles in the original film, have been roped in for this spin-off as well. Param plays detective Abhijit Pakrashi and Raima essays his love interest Amrita. If all goes according to plan, Srijit will start shooting for the film in mid-October. The story of Dwitiyo Purush will commence from where Baishe Srabon had left off.

Ever since Srijit Mukherji's ‘Gumnaami’ was announced, it has been dragged into controversies. After the ‘Gumnaami’ teaser was dropped online, the makers were served with a legal notice from a Kolkata based researcher. However, it seems Srijit has got full support from the film fraternity. Parambrata Chatterjee took to his Twitter handle to back Srijit's film. “#Gumnaami is a film based on one of the multiple theories on Netaji’s disappearance. Watch it when it releases, love it, critique it, do whatever, but what’s this preemptive legal suite etc??? Let people interpret their heroes their way! @srijitspeakth @SVFsocial,” wrote the actor-director.

Picture Courtesy: Facebook

Srijit Mukherji is on a roll. While his upcoming thriller ‘Gumnaami’ is making all the right noises since the release of its official teaser, his another blockbuster ‘Vinci Da’ which released earlier this year continues its festival journey. The critically acclaimed thriller will be competing for the prestigious 13th Asia Pacific Screen Awards in Brisbane. The national award-winning director took to his Twitter handle to share the exciting news with his fans.

Picture Courtesy: SVF Twitter

Soumitra Chatterjee headed home on Wednesday after spending almost a week in a Kolkata hospital, after being diagnosed with pneumonia and multiple-organ dysfunction. A team of doctors who were in charge of his treatment has revealed the 84-year-old thespian made a good recovery.

He was shifted from the intensive care unit (ICU) to a general ward within three days. "He was critical when he arrived at the hospital with community-acquired pneumonia in the background of COPD," said Dr. Arindam Mukherjee of the city hospital. "We initially thought he may need to be put on a ventilator but he eventually did not need any intervention," he stated. The veteran actor has been advised to return for a check-up after two weeks.

Picture courtesy: Facebook

Vinay Pathak was in the city only recently shooting for Arindam Sil’s ‘Mitin Mashi’ and here’s another piece of good news for the Kolkata cine buffs. Renowned Bollywood character artist Sanjay Mishra who has enthralled the audience for years with his powerful performances will be in the city to shoot for a Hindi film which is being directed by Dipangsu Sahani. While the story is by Tarun Dutta, ‘I Am Victim’ (working title) is being produced by Amit Acharyya who hails from Kolkata itself.

Picture courtesy: Facebook

What happens when you meet a beautiful ghost who doesn’t even know that she is dead? There’s more twist! You want to help the ghost in search of her identity and suddenly discover she was murdered. Pretty interesting right? Well, Soukarya Ghosal who floored everyone with ‘Rainbow Jelly’ last year is back with a new film ‘Bhoot Pori’, a horror fantasy. The cast of ‘Bhootpori’ assembles some of the best from the industry. Jaya Ahsan will be seen as the puzzled ghost Banalata. Ritwick Chakraborty plays a thief Makhan who helps the boy to find out Banalata’s cause of death. Child actor Bishantak Mukherjee essays the role of the boy Suryanayan who encounters the ghost and Sudiptaa Chakraborty plays her mother.

Picture courtesy: Facebook

Tollywood is all set to get a fresh pair in Rishav Basu and Bibriti Chatterjee. The new pair will be seen in Tathagata Mukherjee’s next directorial ‘Votvoti’. Rishav will play a young man Votvoti who lives in a slum and collects coin thrown into the river Ganges for living. Votvoti believes a mermaid is living in the river, however, nobody believes him. Bibriti who played an important role in Arindam Sil’s ‘Byomkesh Gowtro’ last year will be seen as the mermaid.

Picture courtesy: PSS Entertainment

After the critically acclaimed film ‘Samsara’, Rahul is set for a television comeback. The actor will be seen in a new daily soap called Aye Khuku Aye. Sandipta Sen will be seen opposite him. Sandipta has earlier worked with Rahul before in a TV serial Tumi Ashbe Bole. There is much speculation about Rahul's relationship with Sandipta since their previous serial. Many have even blamed Rahul-Sandipta's closeness for his divorce with actress Priyanka Sarkar.